We’ve had this boring metal plant stand for a long time, and she’s served us well for many years. But like so many other things around here she was beginning to look a little worn and faded 😉

An old metal plant stand makeover - #tinceilingideas #tinceilinghomedecor #tinceilingtilesrepurposed #plantstandideas #ACraftyMix

A few weeks ago we bought a whole bunch of old tin ceiling tiles on facebook and I must admit when they arrived I was pleasantly surprised with how many we actually got for the price we paid. But they were really rusty and needed a lot of work before we could use them.

A whole bunch of rusty tin ceiling tiles (metal pressed) - #tinceilingideas #tinceilinghomedecor #tinceilingtilesrepurposed #plantstandideas #ACraftyMix

Don’t get me wrong, I love things that are old and rusty. We’ve even gone so far as to “rustify” brand new metal to look old. But these tiles were really, really rusty. And so they lay forlornly in our back courtyard until inspiration struck and the metal plant stand got the makeover of the century.

How to makeover an old plant stand using ceiling rusty tin ceiling tiles. Includes 3 ways to clean and prepare the tiles for craft projects #tinceilingideas #tinceilinghomedecor #tinceilingtilesrepurposed #plantstandideas #ACraftyMix

Just WOW!!!!! We’ve made quite a few things that are really close to my heart. Our suitcase dresser still makes me smile every morning when I get dressed and the little “HOME” shelf has a few more special trinkets that have been added over the years. But this tin ceiling makeover has now taken over the no.1 spot. Just imagine seeing this when you walk out the backdoor.

How to makeover an old plant stand using ceiling rusty tin ceiling tiles. Includes 3 ways to clean and prepare the tiles for craft projects #tinceilingideas #tinceilinghomedecor #tinceilingtilesrepurposed #plantstandideas #ACraftyMix

The way the tin ceiling tiles seem to create a frame around the succulents makes my heart do a happy dance. They make the perfect backdrop for our succulents collection.

How to makeover an old plant stand using ceiling rusty tin ceiling tiles. Includes 3 ways to clean and prepare the tiles for craft projects #tinceilingideas #tinceilinghomedecor #tinceilingtilesrepurposed #plantstandideas #ACraftyMix

I think I’m in love 😉

How to makeover an old plant stand using ceiling rusty tin ceiling tiles. Includes 3 ways to clean and prepare the tiles for craft projects #tinceilingideas #tinceilinghomedecor #tinceilingtilesrepurposed #plantstandideas #ACraftyMix

Okay, but you didn’t come to visit to hear me gushing about our tin ceiling plant stand 😉 So let me show you quickly how we transformed the old metal one. I’ll also be sharing three ways to clean and prep tin ceiling tiles for craft and DIY projects.

But, before we get to the tutorial, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram. And don’t forget to subscribe so you’ll never miss a post!

How To Transform a Metal Plant Stand with Tin Ceiling Tiles

Getting the Plant Stand Ready

Although the frame of the old metal plant stand was not quite straight it was still solid. There were some rust spots and the old paint had started to peel away, so we removed the loose rust and paint with a wire brush and gave it a light sanding to smooth it all out.

An old metal plant stand makeover - #tinceilingideas #tinceilinghomedecor #tinceilingtilesrepurposed #plantstandideas #ACraftyMix

The stand was wiped down with a degreaser to get rid of any dust and oily residue first before giving her a three coats of black primer. She’ll be exposed to the elements, so primer is essential to protect her against rust and corrosion.

Painting and preparing the plant stand for it's makeover - #tinceilingideas #tinceilinghomedecor #tinceilingtilesrepurposed #plantstandideas #ACraftyMix

To make a new top for the plant stand we cut a few pallets to size and then we could get cracking on cleaning up those rusty tin ceiling tiles.

3 Ways to Clean and Prep Old Tin Ceiling Tiles

Just a heads up, cleaning old, rusty tin ceiling tiles is hard work and it’s a messy business. It took us the whole weekend to prep and clean these. But it’s totally worth it. Please wear protective gear. Most old tiles were painted with lead paint back in the day.

Oven Cleaner

Good old oven cleaner. We use it for so many things. It removes gooey glue, it’s great for cleaning oil marks on concrete and it’s a cheap alternative to paint strippers. Just spray the oven cleaner on and let it sit for a few minutes.

Oven cleaner is a budget friendly alternative to paint stripper. #cleaningtintiles #ovencleaner #paintstripper

Scrub the paint with a wire brush and remember to wear gloves.

The oven cleaner doing it's work and eating away at the paint #cleaningtintiles #ovencleaner #paintstripper

The above photo is after the first application. Depending on how many layers of paint there are you may need to apply more oven cleaner and repeat. On this specific ceiling tile, we had to do it three times. The great thing about using an oven cleaner is the control you have around how much paint you want to keep. Here’s a before and after of the same tile.

Before and after of the tin ceiling tile after applying oven cleaner #cleaningtintiles #ovencleaner #paintstripper

It even removes the rust 😉 Wipe the ceiling tiles with vinegar to neutralize the oven cleaner, and then rinse them off with clean water. Allow the ceiling tiles to dry thoroughly before sealing or repainting.

Sanding and Blasting

If you’re not too fussy about how much paint does, or doesn’t, get removed, a quick and dirty way of preparing and cleaning the tiles is to use a sandblast gun, compressor and a bucket full of sand. Protective eyewear, long sleeves, gloves, and a mask are a MUST. In fact, just put full-body armor on, it’s probably easier 😀 That sand gets everywhere.

How to sand blast using a bucket - How to makeover an old plant stand using ceiling rusty tin ceiling tiles. Includes 3 ways to clean and prepare the tiles for craft projects #tinceilingideas #tinceilinghomedecor #tinceilingtilesrepurposed #plantstandideas #ACraftyMix

Insert the one end of the sandblaster into the bucket of fine sand and spray away.

Lots of flaky paint removed from the tin ceiling tiles after sand blasting

It’s a little quicker than oven cleaner, but it doesn’t remove all the paint, just smoothes it out so it won’t peel off.

Bang, Smack, and Scrape

This is my favorite method. It so satisfying banging, smacking, and scraping those tiles 😀 Bang and smack the tiles with the back end of a paint scraper or screwdriver to get the loose paint off. Depending on how old the paint is, it will come off in chunks. The rest can be scraped off with the sharp end of your tool of choice. You can also leave some of that old paint on the tile after smacking and make this beautiful multi-purpose framed ceiling tile.

Using a screw driver to remove flaky paint from the old tin ceiling tiles #tinceilingideas #tinceilinghomedecor #tinceilingtilesrepurposed #plantstandideas #ACraftyMix

For stubborn paint bits use a wire brush and a little elbow grease 😀

Every old ceiling tile is different so choose the method that works for you. To remove most of the paint use oven cleaner like we did when we made our recycled birdhouse. If you want to keep some of the old paint and don’t mind getting sand in your crack everywhere, use the sandblaster. Or if you like banging things around, go for the bang, smack and scrape approach. For the plant stand, I wanted to retain some of the “history” of the tiles and I loved the layers of interest the paint created so bang, smack, and scrape it was.

If you break down the ceiling, nothing can hold your dreams back. Click to Tweet

3 ways to clean and prepare tin ceiling tiles (pressed metal tiles) for craft and DIY projects #tinceilingideas #tinceilinghomedecor #tinceilingtilesrepurposed #plantstandideas #ACraftyMix

Whatever method you use, make sure to seal the tiles after cleaning with a clear, protective sealer to protect them and prevent further rust.

Rustoleum to protect and seal the ceiling tiles and bring out all those beautiful patterns and colors - #tinceilingideas #tinceilinghomedecor #tinceilingtilesrepurposed #plantstandideas #ACraftyMix

We applied multiple coats of Rust-Oleum, clear Satin. I want these beauties to last for at least another 1/2 century.

Rustoleum to protect and seal the ceiling tiles and bring out all those beautiful patterns and colors - #tinceilingideas #tinceilinghomedecor #tinceilingtilesrepurposed #plantstandideas #ACraftyMix

Alrighty then. Now that the tin ceiling tiles have been cleaned and sealed, we can add them to the plant stand and take it to the next level.

Adding the ceiling tiles to the plant stand

To attach the ceiling tiles we flipped the plant stand on its side over and cut the tiles using tin snips so they would fit neatly.

Attaching the ceiling tiles to the back of the metal plant stand - How to makeover an old plant stand using ceiling rusty tin ceiling tiles. Includes 3 ways to clean and prepare the tiles for craft projects #tinceilingideas #tinceilinghomedecor #tinceilingtilesrepurposed #plantstandideas #ACraftyMix

We drilled small holes in the tiles and used baling wire to attach them to the frame of the metal plant stand.

Attaching the ceiling tiles to the frame - #tinceilingideas #tinceilinghomedecor #tinceilingtilesrepurposed #plantstandideas #ACraftyMix

The back of the tiles got two more coats of sealer and our beautiful, gorgeous, stupendously awesome tin ceiling plant stand was ready for a succu-licious display.

How to makeover an old plant stand using ceiling rusty tin ceiling tiles. Includes 3 ways to clean and prepare the tiles for craft projects #tinceilingideas #tinceilinghomedecor #tinceilingtilesrepurposed #plantstandideas #ACraftyMix

Oops, sorry I promised to stop gushing. But I can’t. Look how beautifully it compliments those succulents.

How to makeover an old plant stand using ceiling rusty tin ceiling tiles. Includes 3 ways to clean and prepare the tiles for craft projects #tinceilingideas #tinceilinghomedecor #tinceilingtilesrepurposed #plantstandideas #ACraftyMix

One more.

How to makeover an old plant stand using ceiling rusty tin ceiling tiles. Includes 3 ways to clean and prepare the tiles for craft projects #tinceilingideas #tinceilinghomedecor #tinceilingtilesrepurposed #plantstandideas #ACraftyMix
Okay, I’m going to stop now, but if you like the idea, don’t forget to pin it for later.

How to makeover an old plant stand using ceiling rusty tin ceiling tiles. Includes 3 ways to clean and prepare the tiles for craft projects #tinceilingideas #tinceilinghomedecor #tinceilingtilesrepurposed #plantstandideas #ACraftyMix

Oh and if you’re looking for some of the things we used, we’ve got you covered Disclosure: Clicking on the links below, means we may receive a commission from Amazon. But don’t worry it won’t come out of your pocket, and it helps us make more amazing crafts to share with you 😉

FASÄDE Traditional Style/Pattern 10 Decorative Vinyl Backsplash Panel in Oil-Rubbed Bronze (One 18' x 24' Panel)
Sale From Plain To Beautiful In Hours 261 Ridged Metal PVC 2' x 2' Lay-in Ceiling Tile (Covers / 100 sq.ft), Old Tin Roof, 25 Piece
FASÄDE Traditional Style/Pattern 1 Decorative Vinyl Backsplash Panel in Copper Fantasy (One 18' x 24' Panel)

And if you prefer to buy rather than DIY, then maybe these beauties will appeal.

Giantex 6 Tier Wooden Plant Stand, 10 Pots Flower Display Rack, Vertical Shelves Plant Pot Holder, Multiple Tier Plant Succulent Bonsai Organizer Storage for Home Patio Balcony Garden
Sale Succulents Plants Live (20PK) Potted Succulent Plants Live House Plants, Cactus Plants Live Plants Indoor Plants Live Houseplants, Indoor Plant Succulents Live Plant House Plant by Plants for Pets
SONGMICS Bamboo Customizable Plant Stand Flower Pots Holder Display Utility Shelf Bathroom Storage Rack Shelving Unit Brown UBCB93BR

Until next time, stay crafty and always see the beauty in everything.

Made with love by a Crafty Mix